Vestibule-curtain holder.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

No;'s50,193.

W. E. TIBPETT.

VESTIBULE CURTAIN HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.18, 1906.

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jtened and fastened NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.VESTIBULE-CURTAIN HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l-atented April 16, 1907.

Application filed October 18, 1906. Serial No. 339.514.

To aZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELLSWORTH TIPPETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vestibule-Curtain Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vestibule-curtain holders, the object being to provide a curtain-holder so constructed that it will automatically unfasten itself when the cars are accidentally uncoupled or when the brakeman uncouples the cars without unfastening the curtain, thereby preventing the curtain from being torn to pieces and destroyed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a holder which is very simple and cheap in construction and one which will securely hold the curtain under the ordinary strain it is subject to, thereby overcoming the difficulties now existing with devices of this character now in use of the fasteners coming unfastened when they are subject to a slight strain, such as when the cars are rounding a sharp curve. Most of the devices of this character now in use use pivoted catches, which are either held against the tension of the roller by springs or pins, thereby requiring two operations to fasten or unfasten the device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a curtainholder "which can be unfasjust as easily as the handles now in general use and one which will hold the curtain securely in place against any ordinary strain, and yet will unfasten itself if the car should be uncoupled accidentally.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of-a portion of two vestibule-cars, showing my improved holders applied to the curtain and post. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one vestibule curtain and holder, showing it in a fastened position. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of a vestibule-curtain and holder, showing it in the act of being unfastened. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper por tion of the loop. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sleeve mounted on said loop. Fig. 6

the loop. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View through the sleeve. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the curtain, showing the reinforcing-strip forming the guide-eyes. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modification, and Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the loop and sleeve.

In the drawings A and B indicate the ends of two vestibule-cars, the posts A B of which carry the ordinary flexible diaphragm 0 now in use.

D is a curtain carried by a spring-actuated roller (not shown) mounted in the post A in the usual manner and carrying at its free end a rod D, all of which are of the ordinary construction.

Secured on the rod D midway its length is my improved loop E of the holder, which is adapted to fit in a socket-plate F, secured to the post B of the other car. The loop consists of a bar G, having an arm G at its upper end provided with a split sleeve G at its ends having apertured ears G which is adapted to be clamped around the rod D by screws passing through the apertured ears.

A recess G is formed in the lower end of the bar G, provided with a threaded bore G, in which is secured the boss H, formed on one end of an arm H, by a screw working in the threaded bore. The other end of the arm H is provided'with a split sleeve H ,hav ing apertured ears H, which is also adapted to be clamped around the rod by screws in a similar manner.

Mounted on the bar G between the arm is a sleeve I, adapted to fit in the socket F, and is provided with a longitudinal rib I, having a sguare edge 1*, adapted to engage the edge F o the socket F, for the purpose hereinafter fully described. Cam-shaped lugs I are formed on the sleeve adjacent its end, to which are connected the ends of cords or cables J, which pass through openings in the curtain and the eyes K of the reinforcingplate K, secured to the outside of the curtain under the opening. the ends of the cords J, having its other end connected to the post A in any suitable manner. As shown in the drawings, the chain is given a plenty of slack and the curtain is formed long enough, so that the strain will not come on the chain until the cars have been uncoupled.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9 I pro- 55 is a perspective view of the lower portion of l vide the end of the chain or cord M with a I00 A chain L is secured to weight M, which works'up and down ina hollow post N, carrying the curtain for keeping the chain taut.

The operation is as follows: Then it is desired to fasten the curtain across the space between the cars, the operator catches hold of the loop and pulls the curtain across to the opposite posts and drops it into the socket-plate, which will be securely held therein by the tension of the curtain, as it is done with the ordinary handles and hooks now in use. Should the cars become uncoupled accidentally or by a brakeman without unfastening the curtain, the strain will draw the chain tight,which will rotate the sleeve on the bar oi the loop until the square edge of the rib engages the edge of the socket-plate, which will form a fulcrum for the sleeve, and as the strain becomes greater the sleeve will ride over the edge of the socket and release the curtain.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a curtain, of a fixed socket, a revoluble member carried by the curtain and engaging the socket and means for operating the said member from the curtain to disengage it from the said socket when the curtain is subject to excessive strain, for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a curtain, of a fixed socket, a revoluble member carried by the curtain and engaging the socket and means for imparting a turning movement to said member from the curtain to cause it to be automatically disengaged from the socket when the cars are uncoupled.

3. In. a device of the kind described, the combination with a curtain, of a fixed socket, a revolubly-mounted member carried by the curtain for engaging the socket and a connection between the curtain and revoluble members to automatically disengage said member from the socket when the cars are uncoupled for the purpose described.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a curtain, of a fixed socket, a revoluble'member carried by the curtain. and adapted to enter the said socket and a flexible connection between the revoluble member and curtain, ,for the purpose described.

5. The combination with a curtain, of a fixed stop, a revoluble member carried by the curtain and engaging the socket, said member having a projection for engaging the edge of the stop when turned a given distance and a connection between the said members and curtain, whereby the members will be automatically disengaged from the socket when the cars are uncoupled for the purpose described.

6. The combination with a'curtain, of a sleeve revolublymounted on said bar adapted to fit in said socket and means connected to said sieeve for revolving said sleeve for the purpose described.

7. The combination with a curtain, of a fixed socket a bar carried by said curtain, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said bar provided with a'projection and means connected to said sleeve for bringing said projection into engagement with the edge of the socket, for the purpose described. I

'8. The combination. with a curtain, of a fixed socket a bar detachably connected to the free end of said curtain, a sleeve mounted on said bar adapted to fit in said socket provided with a projection and with lugs and means connected to said lugs for turning said projection into engagement with the edge of the socket, for the purpose described.

9. The combination with a spring-actuated curtain, of a fixed socket, a bar detachably connected to the free end of said curtain, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said bar ada ted to fit in said socket provided with a rib iaving a square edge, and means for turning the square edge of the rib into engagement with the edge of the socket, for the purpose described.

10. The combination with a spring-actuated curtain, of a fixed socket, a bar carried by the free end of said curtain, a sleeve revolubly mounted 011 said bar, adapted to fit in said socket provided with a rib having a square edge, and spaced cam-shaped lugs and means connected to said lugs for turning said. sleeve in said socket until the square edge of the rib engages the edge of the socket for disen a in said sleeve from the socket,

23 U C) for the purpose described.

11. The combination with a spring-actuated roller carrying a curtain, of a fixed socket, a bar carried by. the free end of said curtain, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said bar adapted to fit in the socket, provided with 'a rib having a square edge and with spaced cam-shaped lugs, and cords. connected to said lugs for turning said square edge of the ribs into engagement with the edge of the socket, for the purpose described.

12. The combination with a spring-actuated curtain carrying a rod in its end, of a fixed socket, a bar provided with split sleeves secured. on said rod, a sleeve secured on said bar adapted to fit in said socket provided with a rib having a square edge and means for turning said square edge of the rib into engagement with the edge of the plate, for disengaging said sleeve, from the socket.

113. The combination with a pair of vestibule-cars, of a spring-actuated curtain carried by one of the cars, a fixed socket carried by the other car, a revoluble member provided with a projection carried by the free fixed socket, a bar carried by said curtain, a

end of the curtain adapted to fit in said socket and means connecting said member to the car for turning said projection into engagement with the edge of the socket for disengaging said member from the socket.

14. The combination with a pair of vesti bule-cars, of a spring-actuated curtain carried by one of the cars, a fixed socket carried by the other car, a bar carried by the free end of the curtain, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said bar provided with a projection, and cords connecting said sleeve to the car carrying the curtain for turning said projection into engagement with the edge of the socket for disengaging said sleeve from said socket.

15. The combination with a pair of vestibule-cars, of a spring-actuated curtain carried by one of the cars provided with a rod, at its free end, a bar provided with split sleeves secured over said rod, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said bar provided with a rib and spaced lugs and cords connecting said lugs to the car carrying the curtain for turnin said ribs into engagement with the edge of the socket for disengaging said sleeve from said socket.

16. The combination with a pair of vestibule-cars, of a spring-actuated curtain carried by one of said cars provided with a rod at its free end, an arm carrying a bar provided with a split sleeve secured over said rod, an arm provided with a split sleeve secured over said rod connected to said bar, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said bar, adapted to fit in said socket provided with a rib having a square edge and with spaced camshaped lugs and cords connecting said lugs to the car carrying the curtain for turning the square edge of the rib into engagement with the ed e of the socket for disengaging said sleeve, from said socket.

WILLIAM ELLSWORTH 'llPPE'Wl.

Witnesses:

JAMEs R. CARMER, SAMUEL W. HUGHEs. 

